This is a film still from THE STORY OF A THREE DAY PASS which screens this week at BFI Southbank.

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [06 to 12 AUG 2021]

Our RADIANT CIRCUS guide to what’s on in London this week across DIY, indie & alternative cinema, including one-off screen events, film seasons, film festivals & new releases.

By RADIANT CIRCUS // Twitter @radiantcircus / Instagram @radiantcircus

BOOKING NOW: Event sponsored by our monthly subscribers at Patreon to help indie exhibitors #ReviveTheDark.

We’ve spotted a few additions to our epic monthly roundup of rep seasons this week, including THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS at Bertha DocHouse (from 06 AUG), a celebratory weekender for JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY at Screen25 Cinema (06 to 08 AUG), and AN INTRODUCTION TO KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI at Genesis Cinema (from 10 AUG). If you’re in the mood for some of the Polish maestro’s work, THREE COLOURS: RED screens from 35MM at The Prince Charles this week (10 & 12 AUG) and we’ve spotted a coming attraction at The Castle Cinema, a double bill of A SHORT FILM ABOUT LOVE + A SHORT FILM ABOUT KILLING presented by No Bollocks Film Club (31 AUG).

Whilst we’re looking ahead at The Castle, Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club has announced their latest title: PULP FICTION 16MM (22 AUG 13:45 / 26 AUG 19:30 / 29 AUG 13:30). Grab a ticket while you can…

Queer themes continue to weave their way through London’s indie programming, with Women Over Fifty Film Festival continuing their tour of TWO OF US with LGBTQ+ charity Opening Doors at The Lexi (11 AUG) and the similarly brilliant NEW EAST CINEMA giving Reka Valerik’s gay martial arts doc SILENT VOICE a UK Premiere on the same night at Barbican (11 AUG). And you should definitely make space in your weekend for a CABARET SOIREE! featuring a screening of Bob Fosse’s impeccable movie musical plus a serving of high tea all dished up by the gorgeous We Do Good Disco at Ninth Life (08 AUG).

Elsewhere, it’s a quiet time of year for festivals (after the city-wide razzmatazz of Sundance London…), but The Blue Tick Festival (10 to 19 AUG) takes over Rio Cinema for a series of screenings that bring online comedians and creators onto the big screen. Let us know if we’ve missed anyone else!

It’s also a quiet week for new indie releases too, with several cinemas not picking up the latest offerings in favour of continuing with more mainstream affairs. Maya Da-Rin’s THE FEVER opens on a few screens along with the revival of NOW, VOYAGER that is re-released in conjunction with the BETTE DAVIS: HOLLYWOOD REBEL season at BFI Southbank. Janicza Bravo’s ZOLA gets a lot of love. Martin Scorsese’s GOODFELLAS gets a weeklong run at The Prince Charles from 35MM.

RADIANT CIRCUS was born of our enduring fascination with what we call ‘the afterlife of moving pictures’, which pretty much accommodates everything that happens after their initial production and release. Which in turn leads to an obsession with learning about the long and sometimes arduous process it takes for some films to get (back) on screen.

With this in mind, there are two titles in London this week from the world famous Cinema Rediscovered festival at Bristol’s Watershed: Melvin Van Peebles’ 1968 film THE STORY OF A THREE DAY PASS 4K at BFI Southbank, and The Twelve30 Collective’s presentation of Perry Henzell’s NO PLACE LIKE HOME as part of Screen25 Cinema’s JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY celebrations (06 to 08 AUG). Which is more than enough reason to make them our joint Featured Attraction of the Week.*

See you in the darkness,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

* Returning quickly to my crystal ball before we go, Barbican will be presenting another of Melvin Van Peebles’s films a little later in the year, WATERMELON MAN + Short: CINQ CENT BALLES (09 SEP 18:10).

THE STORY OF A THREE DAY PASS 4K aka La Permission d. Melvin Van Peebles, 1968 at BFI Southbank (07, 08, 10 & 12 AUG) / Part of Cinema Rediscovered on Tour.

  • “‘Among the great American films of the sixties’ (Richard Brody, New York Times). Melvin Van Peebles’ first feature is based on his own novel (written in French) and follows Turner, a Black American soldier stationed in France who’s granted a three-day pass of leave and travels to Paris, where he meets and falls for a white woman named Miriam. During the weekend, their romance throws up some of the casual and contradictory views on race found in the French capital at the time and Van Peebles deals with them head on and playfully, but with an element of subversion. With a look inspired by the French New Wave, this rarely seen picture is just waiting to be celebrated by a new generation in its new 4K restoration.” (featured image)

NO PLACE LIKE HOME d. Perry Henzell, 1973 + Intro by Jonathan Ali & Lisa Harewood at Screen25 Cinema (06 AUG 19:45) / Part of JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKENDER.

  • “Join us in celebrating Jamaican Independence Day with a screening of Perry Henzell’s long-lost second feature NO PLACE LIKE HOME. Susan (Susan O’Meara) is the American producer of a shampoo commercial being shot in Jamaica. When the star, PJ (PJ Soles, CARRIE and HALLOWEEN), abandons the shoot, Susan sets out to find her, with charismatic local fixer Carl (Carl Bradshaw, THE HARDER THEY COME). Making their way through the countryside, Susan and Carl find themselves attracted to each other. However, neither of them has any illusions about the separate and unequal worlds to which they belong. Reconstructed and restored, NO PLACE LIKE HOME went into production in 1973 and at last, achieves a theatrical release almost 50 years later. This definitive version of the film is both a sun-kissed love letter to Jamaica and a thoughtful examination of it.”

FRIDAY 06 AUG

SATURDAY 07 AUG

ONLINE

  • Moving Image Salon featuring guest artist Himali Singh Soin presented online by Moving Image Artists (07 AUG 14:00 – FREE online/Booking essential!)

SUNDAY 08 AUG

  • AS TEARS GO BY aka Wong Gok ka moon d. Wong Kar Wai, 1988 at Picturehouse Cinemas (08 AUG various).
  • CABARET SOIREE! featuring CABARET d. Bob Fosse, 1972 + High Tea & Archive Visuals presented by We Do Good Disco at Ninth Life (08 AUG 16:00).
  • THE FILMMAKER’S HOUSE d. Marc Isaacs, 2019 + Q&A with the director at ICA (08 AUG 18:30).
  • THE KLF – WELCOME TO THE DARK AGES d. Paul Duane, 2019 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Moth Club (08 AUG 19:30).
  • LIMBO d. Ben Sharrock, 2020 + Recorded Q&A with the director at ArtHouse Crouch End (08 AUG 13:00).
  • SEXY BEAST d. Jonathan Glazer, 2000 at Picturehouse Bromley (08 AUG 17:00).
  • SEXY BEAST d. Jonathan Glazer, 2000 at Catford Mews (08 AUG 18:15).
  • THE STORY OF A THREE DAY PASS 4K aka La Permission d. Melvin Van Peebles, 1968 at BFI Southbank (08 AUG 18:10) / Part of Cinema Rediscovered on Tour.
  • TOP GUN d. Tony Scott, 1986 at Electric Cinemas White City (08 AUG 13:45).

MONDAY 09 AUG

  • HERE WE ARE d. Nir Bergman, 2000 at Genesis Cinema (09 AUG 21:00).
  • I’M YOUR MAN aka Ich bin dein Mensch d. Maria Schrader, 2021 preview at BFI Southbank (09 AUG 17:50).
  • SEXY BEAST d. Jonathan Glazer, 2000 at Picturehouse Bromley (09 AUG 19:45).

TUESDAY 10 AUG

WEDNESDAY 11 AUG

  • AS TEARS GO BY aka Wong Gok ka moon d. Wong Kar Wai, 1988 at Picturehouse Cinemas (11 AUG various)
  • CENSOR d. Prano Bailey-Bond, 2021 + Q&A with the director at Genesis Cinema (11 AUG 18:20).
  • EL FATHER PLAYS HIMSELF d. Mo Scarpelli, 2020 at ICA (11 AUG 16:10).
  • LIMBO d. Ben Sharrock, 2020 + Recorded Q&A with the director at ArtHouse Crouch End (11 AUG 15:30).
  • SILENT VOICE d. Reka Valerik, 2020 + Recorded Q&A with the director UK premiere presented by New East Cinema at Barbican (11 AUG 18:30).
  • TWO OF US d. Filippo Meneghetti, 2020 + Short: WINGS d. Jamie Weston, 2020 + Q&A with charity Opening Doors presented by Women Over Fifty Film Festival at The Lexi Cinema (11 AUG 19:30).
  • THE WATERMELON WOMAN d. Cheryl Dunye, 1996 presented by Unicorn Nights at The Prince Charles (11 AUG 18:55).

THURSDAY 12 AUG

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70MM d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 ‘unrestored print’ (10 AUG 20:15).

AGNÈS VARDA at ICA

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE GLEANERS & I d. Agnès Varda, 2000 (08 AUG 13:40).

THE ALAN WHICKER CENTENARY at BFI Southbank

ANDREI TARKOVSKY at ICA

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): STALKER d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1979 (06 AUG 15:15).

ANDREI TARKOVSKY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): STALKER d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1979 (08 AUG 14:10, 17:30 & 20:45 / 10 AUG 14:15).

AN INTRODUCTION TO KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI at Genesis Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THREE COLOURS: BLUE d. Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1993 (10 AUG 21:00).

BETTE DAVIS: HOLLYWOOD REBEL at BFI Southbank

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: TOGETHERNESS at BFI Southbank

CHARLIE CHAPLIN at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE GOLD RUSH d. Charles Chaplin, 1925 (07 AUG 12:15).

CLOSE-UP ON ANDREI TARKOVSKY at Close-Up

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): IVAN’S CHILDHOOD d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1962 (06 AUG 20:15); SOLARIS d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972 (08 AUG 17:00).

EARL CAMERON at BFI Southbank

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): TWO GENTLEMAN SHARING 35MM d. Ted Kotcheff, 1969 + Intro by curator Burt Caesar (06 AUG 17:40); FLAME IN THE STREETS 35MM d. Roy Ward Baker, 1961 + Short: RIOTS & RUMOURS OF RIOTS d. Imruh Caesar, 1981 (08 AUG 15:00); SAPPHIRE d. Basil Dearden, 1959 + Panel Discussion (10 AUG 20:20).

ENNIO MORRICONE at BFI Southbank 

FEMALE LEADS at Everyman Broadgate

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THELMA & LOUISE d. Ridley Scott, 1991 (07 AUG 21:00).

THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS at Bertha DocHouse

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): WRITING WITH FIRE d. Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh, 2021 (daily 06 to 12 AUG various).

THE FILMS OF ÉRIC ROHMER at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): A TALE OF SPRINGTIME 35MM aka Conte de printemps d. Éric Rohmer, 1989 (11 AUG 16:15).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE MASTER 35MM d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012 (09 AUG 20:30); BOOGIE NIGHTS 35MM d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997 (11 AUG 15:00).

THE FILMS OF WES ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): ISLE OF DOGS d. Wes Anderson, 2018 (07 AUG 15:00).

THE IRISH FOR HOPE at Rio Cinema & Bertha DocHouse

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): WOLFWALKERS d. Tomm Moore & Ross Stewart, 2020 at Rio Cinema (07 AUG 16:15); DATING AMBER d. David Freyne, 2020 at Rio Cinema (08 AUG 15:45).

JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKENDER at Screen25 Cinema

JAMES BOND 007 at The Prince Charles

JOIN THE #BONGHIVE at The Prince Charles

KOREAN FILM NIGHTS: IN TRANSIT at Bertha DocHouse (live & online)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SOUND OF NOMAD d. Kim So-young, 2016 + Recorded Q&A (online from 05 AUG 19:00 to 07 AUG 23:59 – FREE!); TIME TO READ POEMS d. Lee Soojung, 2016 (10 AUG 18:30).

KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI’S THREE COLOURS TRILOGY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THREE COLOURS: RED 35MM d. Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1994 (10 AUG 17:40 / 12 AUG 13:30).

L.A. NIGHTS at Backyard Cinema

  • Continues at Capital Studios (check venue for listings).

MIAMI BEACH at Backyard Cinema

  • Continues at Capital Studios (check venue for listings).

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

STUDIO GHIBLI at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PRINCESS MONONOKE d. Hayao Miyazaki, 1997 (08 AUG 11:15 – SUB).

TALES OF TOMORROW: SCI-FI SELECTIONS at The Prince Charles

TEEN MOVIES at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS d. Harry Elfont & Deborah Kaplan, 2001 (06 AUG 18:30).

THAT’S KINO, BABY! at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE PLAYER d. Robert Altman, 1992 (09 AUG 17:40); BOOGIE NIGHTS 35MM d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997 (11 AUG 15:00).

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at ICA

Archlight Outdoor Cinema on the Coaling Jetty, Battersea

Deeper Into Movies at Dalston Roof Park

  • Includes (check promoter for full listings): BEASTIE BOYS STORY d. Spike Jonze, 2020 (09 AUG 20:00).

The Luna Cinema at various venues

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): DIRTY DANCING d. Emile Ardolino, 1987 at Dulwich Park (06 AUG 20:45); THE GREATEST SHOWMAN SING-A-LONG d. Michael Gracey, 2017 at Dulwich Park (07 AUG 20:45); ROMEO + JULIET d. Baz Luhrmann, 1996 at Dulwich Park (08 AUG 20:45); TOP GUN d. Tony Scott at Kensington Palace (11 AUG 20:30); BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY d. Bryan Singer, 2018 at Kensington Palace (12 AUG 20:30).

Rooftop Film Club, Peckham

Rooftop Film Club, Stratford East

Summer Outdoor Cinema at Watermans

Sunset Screening Sessions at The Homestead Cafe at Beckenham Place Park (02 JUL to 06 AUG):

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PREVENGE d. Alice Lowe, 2017 (06 AUG 20:30).

THE FEVER aka A Febre d. Maya Da-Rin, 2019

NOW, VOYAGER d. Irving Rapper, 1942

ZOLA d. Janicza Bravo, 2020

  • Also (06 to 12 AUG various): GOODFELLAS 35MM d. Martin Scorsese, 1990 at The Prince Charles (06 to 12 AUG various) // PROFILE d. Timur Bekmambetov, 2018 at Rich Mix (06 to 12 AUG various).
Hold the date: BITE ME! A Queer Horror Double Bill at the Filly Brook (19 SEP 16:00+) // Free! // Booking opens soon.

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*THE SMALL PRINT: Opinions author’s own. // As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any errors. Updates & corrections will be made to the online version only. // Event dates/times/formats are subject to change by the venue/organiser. Events may already be sold out at the time of posting, so please click quickly. // We try to list as many original format screenings as we can (8 to 70MM), but sometimes formats change due to age of the print, availability, logistics etc, so please check ahead with your venue if the format is your thing. // All images are used in the spirit of fair use for reporting & review – no ownership is implied or intended / unless otherwise credited to RADIANT CIRCUS as the original rights holder. We will remove any images immediately upon request – just get in touch. // We don’t filter our listings by age/certification: all readers & subscribers should therefore be 18+. // Finally, we always try to follow The Carny Code by “not screwing up anyone else’s game”, but everyone can make mistakes… If something does go wrong, we will always do our best to put it right. //.